The New York Times journalist sued the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) for revoking his two sons’ visas after they found out he was gay.

The court ruled the ICBF’s decision to separate the two boys from their legal guardian posed a greater risk to the emotional stability of the children.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Colombia in 1980, and between 2007 and 2008 three rulings gave gay couples the same pension, social security and property rights as heterosexual couples.

According to a 2002 report by the Home Office of the United Kingdom, it stated ‘it is not against Colombian law to be homosexual, but a considerable amount of public ill-will exists, as in most Latin American countries where a machismo attitude is widespread.’